This article is part of our FanDuel MLB series.
PITCHER
Taijuan Walker, SEA vs OAK, ($7,600): If you're looking to pivot from a strong cash play in Marcus Storman ($8,100), Walker has a decent matchup at home for his first start of the season. The Mariners will welcome the Athletics to town and Walker will get the benefit of pitching in Safeco Field. Walker finished with a 3.69 xFIP over the second half of last season, and he still has a lot of upside entering his age-23 season. The Vegas line for this game opened at 7.5, with Seattle being a decent favorite at -165, showing that this isn't expected to be a high scoring game and the win should be in play for Walker.
CATCHER
Francisco Cervelli, PIT at CIN, ($2,500): Cervelli gets a boost in value playing in Cincinnati and gets a good matchup against Alfredo Simon. Cervelli finished last season third among catchers against right-handed pitching with a .332 wOBA and Buster Posey (first against RHP) is likely to be held out. It doesn't hurt that Cervelli has started the season hot with games of 15, nine and 18 fantasy points in his last three, respectively.
FIRST BASE
Mike Napoli, CLE at CHI, ($2,800): Napoli has been hitting cleanup for the Indians and hit his first home run of the season Wednesday against Boston. He hit left-handed pitching extremely well last season, finishing with a .403 wOBA and gets a southpaw tonight in John Danks. Napoli also sported a .285 ISO against lefties, which was a higher mark than Paul Goldschmidt by 29 points. Danks struggled at home last season, giving up a 4.91 xFIP to right-handed hitters, helping Napoli's case even more.
SECOND BASE
Kolten Wong, STL at ATL, ($2,500): Wong enters this season with a .335 wOBA against righties and gets one with little experience Friday in Matt Wisler, who struggled mightily against left-handed batters last season by giving up a whopping .986 OPS and an ERA of 4.71. As an added bonus, Wong was active on the base paths last season with 15 stolen bases, sixth-best at the position.
THIRD BASE
Evan Longoria, TB at BAL, ($3,000): This pick is almost solely based on matchup, as Longoria has owned Chris Tillman in the past. Tillman is pitching on three days rest and has served up six home runs to Longoria over his career. Longoria has 10 extra base hits against Tillman, helping to compile a 1.164 OPS. It also helps that the game is being played in Camden Yards as opposed to Tropicana Field.
SHORTSTOP
Alexei Ramirez, SD at COL, ($3,000): The Padres have struggled coming out of the gate and haven't scored a run in any of their first three games. A trip to Colorado should remedy that and it'll be wise to get a few players into your lineup considering the over/under sits at 10.5 runs. Ramirez is an economical way to get a piece of Coors Field on the Padres' side of the lineup.
OUTFIELD
Gerardo Parra, COL vs SD, ($3,600): The Rockies will likely start Charlie Blackmon ($4,800) and Carlos Gonzalez ($4,500) in addition to Parra, so it's nice to get a discount. The Rockies have the highest expected team total of the night at almost six runs and get a good matchup against Colin Rea, who they just saw a couple weeks ago in spring training. Rea gave up five earned runs over five innings in that matchup but, more importantly, the Rockies each got in a couple of at-bats against him. Parra sported a respectable .345 wOBA last season against righties and the move to Coors Field should only enhance that number.
Dexter Fowler, CHI at ARI, ($3,100): Fowler is one of the better hitters against left-handed pitching and finished last season 13th at the position with a .376 wOBA. To put that in perspective, that's better than Jose Bautista and Matt Kemp. It helps that Fowler gets Robbie Ray in Chase Field, which has been one of the better hitters' parks in baseball. Ray was significantly worse at home last season with a .355 wOBA allowed compared to a .286 on the road.
Michael Conforto, NYM vs PHI, ($2,400): Conforto will be at home as the Mets host the Phillies and young prospect Jared Eickhoff. Conforto had no trouble adjusting to major league right-handed pitching last season, finishing with a .371 wOBA against them with nine home runs in only 160 at-bats. Eickhoff is a nice prospect but in a limited sample last season he gave up a .391 wOBA away from Philadelphia to left-handed hitters.
